UK accountancy and investment management group Smith & Williamson has announced that Philip Lawlor will return to the firm this autumn.

Lawlor will re-join Smith & Williamson to take up the role of group strategist, with effect from 7 October.

In addition, Mark Pignatelli, manager of the European growth trust, has decided to retire from fund management to pursue interests outside of the investment management industry, and will be leaving Smith & Williamson at the end of this year, the firm said.

In other recent developments, earlier in the month Smith & Williamson appointed Juliet McDonald as an associate director for marketing.